All Night Long

windows. Early nineteenth century, I think. See those crown moldings? They’re not reproductions. It looks like an old house tha ou might see somewhere in Europe.”
    Tess nodded slowly. “Now that you mention it, yes, it does.”
    Before Irene could make any more comments, a man walked into view. There was no audio wit he clip. The figure moved in unnatural silence.
    At first it was only possible to see him from the waist down because of the camera angle. Then he lowered himself onto one of the pink chairs. The change of position brought his face into clear view.
    “Ryland Webb,” Irene whispered.
    “What in the world is going on here?” Tess said.
    Webb settled back into the chair, hitched up his elegantly tailored trousers and cocked one ankle ove is knee. Everything about his pose suggested ease and familiarity. He had been in this room before.
    He looked at someone off camera, smiled and made a comment. A moment later a drink was place n his hand by a woman dressed in a black skirt, severe white blouse and starched white apron. It was impossible to see the maid’s face.
    The toe of Webb’s gleaming shoe bounced a little. Irene got the impression that he was looking forwar o whatever was about to happen. She sensed suppressed excitement in him. There was a sheen o weat on his brow. As she watched, he loosened his tie and focused his attention on a point across the pink-and-white room that was just out of the camera’s view.
    Irene’s cell phone rang, jarring her so badly that she jumped a good three inches. She did not take her eyes off the screen as she punched the key to take the call.
    “Irene?” Luke’s voice carried the hard, no-compromise edge of command.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked instantly.
    “Hoyt Egan is dead.”
    [_”Dead?” _]
    Tess’s head came around very fast, an alarmed, questioning expression on her face.
    “Who’s dead?” she asked.
    Irene held up a hand to silence her so that she could hear Luke.
    “I found him a short while ago,” Luke said. “Someone hit his head very hard and very often with eavy, blunt object. The cops are here now. They’re going on the assumption that Egan interrupted a burglary in progress.”

    “Dear heaven.” Stunned, she tried to gather her wits. She looked at Tess. “Hoyt Egan, Webb’s aide.
    He’s dead.” She turned her attention back to the phone. “Wait a second, Luke. What do you mean,
    you found him? Where are you now?”
    “In the hallway outside his apartment. The cops have set up a crime scene. I’m calling because I’m not going to be able to get away for a couple of hours, at least.
    The detective in charge has made that real clear. He wants to talk to me.”
    “Of course he does. You’re the one who found the body. Why on earth did you go to Egan’s apartment?”
    “Call it a whim,” Luke said dryly. “Look, I’ll give you the whole story when I get home. Meanwhile, I don’t want you there alone at the lodge.”
    “I’m not at the lodge,” Irene said automatically. “I’m at Tess Carpenter’s house.”
    “What are you doing there?” he asked sharply.
    “At the moment we’re viewing some computer files that Pamela left for me to find.”
    “What files? Where did you get them?”
    “She stashed them in my old bedroom at the house where I lived with my parents here in town.”
    “You went there?” Luke paused. “Alone?”
    “I’ll explain later. The important part is what I found. Some of the files are film clips.
    We’re watchin ne now. It shows Senator Webb in this really odd pink-and-white room. He doesn’t seem to know that he’s on camera.”
    “What the hell is he doing?”
    “At the moment, he’s sitting on a chair with a drink in his hand. But it looks like he’s waiting for someone else to come into the room.”
    “Irene, pay attention,” Luke said. “I called Phil Carpenter just before I called you.
    He’s headed out t he lodge. I’m going to call him back and tell him where you are.”
    “Why?”

    “I want him to keep you company until I get back to Dunsley.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    Tess was watching her with an expression of total confusion now.
    “Didn’t you hear what I just told you?” Luke said. “Someone murdered Hoyt Egan.”
    “A burglar.”
    “That’s what the detective suggested. Me, I’m not taking any chances, given your theory about Pamela Webb’s death.”
    Irene swallowed hard. “Got it.”
    At that moment a girl walked into the